Turn-around time on background check for ASG workers reportedly lagging

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The alleged long delay in getting clearance for future government workers from the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) was one of the issues raised on Wednesday during the confirmation hearing for Samana Semo Ve’ave’a as director of that department.

Sen. Muagututi’a Tauoa raised the question saying that he has heard from possible workers waiting for a long time to get clearance from ASDHS, and when asked for the reason behind the delays, there are always different answers.

Samana responded that before he left the department last year, the turn-around time for local applicants was 24-hours but a little longer for foreigners because of the process of getting the information involved. He said ASDHS is one of several ASG agencies involved in the process for a future employee getting clearance in order to work for the government.

Regarding contractor workers for the government, he said only if a department requests ASDHS, will they work on getting employment clearance. (See yesterday’s Samoa News edition for other issues raised at Samana’s confirmation hearing.)